Router Energy Usage

When searching for causes of unnecessary energy usage, appliances around the house that are always on, like network routers, should be suspects. However, routers don't consume a lot of energy.

Our wifi routers are frequently left on during the day in many households. Considering the energy usage of your entire home, even though wifi routers aren't as power-hungry as equipment like air conditioners or washing machines, it's still crucial to know how much electricity they consume.

Wireless fidelity, or wifi, is all needed to share the internet without a connected cable. It functions similarly to a modem. However, the critical distinction between the two is that a modem distributes internet access to several devices using LAN cables, whereas wifi distributes internet access wirelessly.

Depending on the type, wifi routers typically use 5 to 20 watts (W) of electricity. Most wifi routers draw between 5 and 7 volts, connect to a 120-volt socket, and utilize roughly two amps of power. Over a year, electricity use varies depending on the wattage of the wifi router. 

Since the average wifi router stays switched on all day long, it accounts for 1 to 5% of your electricity consumption. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the wifi router's power usage. The router typically uses between 15 and 100 watts of energy. 

Router Efficiency FAQs

How much does it cost to power a Wi-Fi router?

You don't get to see how much each appliance costs when you receive your monthly energy bill; you can only view the entire amount you're charged. 

Using state-average power costs and an average Wi-Fi router wattage of 10 W (equating to 87.6 kWh annually).

Should I turn off my router if it is not in use?

Even if you use your computer to check your email once a day, turning your router on and off will only save you a few cents a month. Turning off the router isn't a good idea if you have multiple devices that require it, such as PCs, smartphones, tablets, TVs, and smart home gadgets.

How much electricity does a router consume?

Between 2 and 20 Watts are used by a router each hour.

How much energy is consumed by a router?

The terms power and energy are interchangeable. Between 2 and 20 Watts are used by a router each hour.

How much electric power is used by a wifi router?

No, routers don't require a lot of electricity because of their relatively low power consumption. To determine a router's electricity usage and cost, use the calculator found in the "Electricity cost calculator" section.

Energy Efficient Router Tips

1. Wifi consumption is directly proportional to the number of connected devices. Hence limit or cancel the unnecessary or unknown devices. Or keep your wifi password protected.
2. Please switch off the wifi router and the adapter whenever you do not need them.
3. We suggest you use your LAN cable directly to your PC/Laptop if you have a single connection. This way, we can avoid the total usage of a wifi router.
4. Keep the Wi-Fi router near your device since longer-range Wi-Fi consumes extra electricity to pair the connection. According to ACT fiber Net, you should keep your wifi router within a minimum distance of 4 feet.

Even if the savings are little, they add up. Let's turn off our routers for two or three weeks each year. We might potentially save a sizable amount of electricity overall.

Routers and Energy Conservation

The process of saving and conserving electricity does help you because you will pay less for your energy bills. Energy conservation benefits both you and the environment. Additionally, keeping electricity helps the environment by preventing the wasteful waste of natural resources. On a personal level, trying to cut a few watts here and there might not seem worthwhile. However, every little bit helps, so if hundreds or thousands of us save a little each time, it will significantly impact the preservation of our natural resources.